Download Infectious Diseases in Industry

Infectious
Diseases
in Industry
Nancy V. Rodway MD MS MPH
Medical Director, Occupational Services, Ambulatory
Centers and Employee Health, Lake Health
Medical Director Lake County General Health District
Objectives
• Highlight select common
communicable diseases in the
workplace
• Describe the risk of contagion of
those diseases and the route of
spread
• Consider methods to limit risk of
transmission of those disease
• Add a few surprises
Influenza
Influenza is leading infectious
disease killer in the US with
35-40,000 deaths per year
Influenza
Flu is NOT vomiting and
diarrhea!
Influenza
• Contagious for 1 day prior to symptoms
and up to 5 days after illness begins
• Spread by respiratory droplets and direct
contact
• Prevent by cleaning surfaces and 5 foot
distance
• Anti-influenza medications can prevent
onset of illness after exposure
Vaccination
• Reduces the risk of infection and
symptoms
• Reduces the risk of spreading the flu
• Reduces the risk of dangerous
complications of influenza
• Influenza vaccination of healthy working
adults saves $47 per person annually in
health care costs and sick days
YOU CANNOT GET
FLU FROM THE FLU
SHOT!!
Complications
“Ringworm”
Tinia corporis
Tinea pedis
Tinia capitus
Ringworm
• Acquired by direct or indirect
contact with lesions or pets
• Contagious as long as lesions are
present
• Not contagious 24 hours after
treatment
Staphylococcal “staph”
skin infections
Let’s start with the easy one
Impetigo
Cellulitis
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus
MRSA was first
isolated in the US
in 1968.
By 2003, it
accounted for
60% of all staph
isolates in ICUs
Looks like a spider bite
MRSA
• Does not respond to usual antibiotics
previously used to treat staphylococcus
• Certain antibiotics continue to be effective
• Spread by direct contact
• Contagious until 24 hours after treatment
started.
• Pus is contagious—keep covered until
lesions dry
Conjunctivitis
Pink-eye
Conjunctivitis
• Highly contagious—up to 75% of those
exposed will get it
• Acquired through direct and indirect
contact
• Treatment
• Contagious until 24 hours after treatment
starts
Varicella
Chicken Pox and Shingles
• Acquired through direct and indirect
contact and respiratory droplets
• Contagious 1-2 days prior to rash then 6
days after rash or until lesions crusted
• Keep shingles rash covered in workplace
to prevent transmission
• Consider varicella vaccine
Strep Throat
‘Tis the season . . . . .
Strep Pharyngitis
• Need to treat with antibiotics to prevent
Rheumatic Fever
• Acquired through direct contact with
…snot
• 25% contagious at most
• Contagious until 24 hours after antibiotics
started
Rheumatic Fever
The Common Cold
Common Cold
• Sore throat, runny nose, sneezing
• Acquired through direct and indirect
contact (dirty tissues) and inhalation of
respiratory droplets (Remember 5 ft!)
• Contagious for 24 hours before symptoms
appear to 5 days after onset
• No need for isolation
Poison Ivy
NOT
CONTAGIOUS!
Krokodil
Dietary Goals for the US 1977
Carbohydrates cause
heart attacks
But, fats are bad for the heart too,
right?
Having a high fat diet does not
put you at risk of heart disease
Having a high
cholesterol
does not
necessarily put
you at risk of
heart disease
The average serum cholesterol
in acute MI patients is 104
mg/dl
WHICH IS NORMAL!
The shift to a low fat diet
was one of the most
dangerous conceptual
shifts in public health in
American history
Gary Taubes
Good Calories, Bad Calories
What to do?